I used a 9x13 for the base and covered it with buttercream and used Nilla Wafers for the sand. The flowers I made from gumpaste and airbrushed their colors. The shells are gumpaste. The flip flops are carved pound cake covered in fondant with fondant accents. I'm very pleased with the way this cake turned out. I had never made flip flops before. The zebra strip on the flip flops was requested by the birthday girl.